Sink or Float?

Thumbs up for float, thumbs down for sink! Make your guess, drop it in a bowl of water, and see who was right.

Predicting
Watching closely
Tally counting

“And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 7:18

Testing in progress

Scientists

Things to test

Something else to test

Options Read aloud Each thing, each question and each answer is spoken. Sounds A bloop for floating, a plop for sinking, and a cheer for right guesses.

You’ll need

A big bowl of water, or a sink
The things you ticked (nothing water would spoil)
A towel for drips, and a grown-up at the water

Sink or Float?

Will it float or sink?

Watch closely. Did it float or sink?

A grown-up stays at the water. Let it go gently, no splashing!

Why?

Our tally chart

What did we learn?

Tally chart

Got one wrong? On the answer screen, tap Change it.

“…and the ark went upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 7:18

How to play

Fill a big bowl with water, and put out about ten things to test. Tick them on the start screen.
Show everyone the first thing. Will it float or sink? Each scientist taps 👍 Float or 👎 Sink.
Test it! Let it go gently into the water and watch closely.
Tap what happened. Everyone who guessed right gets a tally mark in the Right column; everyone else gets one in Wrong.
At the end, count the tally marks, see who was the best predictor, and talk about what you learned.

Tally marks

Draw one line for each guess. The fifth line goes across the other four, so you can count in fives.
No printer? Draw a chart on paper: a row for each scientist, with a Right column and a Wrong column.

Safe at the water

A grown-up stays at the bowl the whole time. Never leave little ones alone with water, even a bowl.
Keep a towel ready and wipe up spills, so nobody slips.
Coins, marbles and paper clips are small enough to swallow. A grown-up hands them out and puts them away after.
Lower the egg in gently on a spoon, and wash hands after touching it. Never use a lit candle.

For mixed ages

Little ones just guess and watch. Older ones can say why before testing, or keep the tally marks on paper.
Some things are marked “It depends!”, because different kinds float or sink. There’s no right or wrong for those.
Things you add yourself have no answer saved: the test tells you!

Keys on a computer

Enter or Space presses the main button. 1 to 6 switch a scientist’s vote between float and sink.
F it floated, S it sank, C change it, R say it again, T the tally chart.